Washington, Nov 29: First it was Salman Rushdie. Then the Bangladeshi writer Tasleema Nasreen. And now it is Isioma Daniel, a Nigerian journalist who has been forced to leave her country after allegedly making offensive remarks against the Prophet Mohammed. Daniel earned her wrath when she wrote in Nigeria`s This Day newspaper that if prophet Mohammed were alive today, he may have wanted to marry one of the Miss World contestants.
Why is it that the Muslims react so harshly whenever they feel that their Prophet is being attacked? The answer lies in Islamic religious and cultural traditions as well as the current political situation.

The Koran, the Islamic holy book, gives the Muslims a set of broad guidelines. But for day-to-day practices, they depend entirely on the Sunnah or the traditions of their prophet. From the day a child learns to speak, he is encouraged to follow those traditions. Hundreds of thousands of books have been written on the Sunnah and its significance for the Muslims.



Even non-Muslims living in an Islamic society unconsciously follow some of these practices because they grow up in a culture strongly influenced by the Sunnah.



So, it is not uncommon to see a Christian living in a non-Arab Muslim society to begin his or her meal saying Bismillah or in the name of God in Arabic.



To use a recent example: when Aimal Kasi, a Pakistani executed for killing two CIA agents earlier this month, was taken to the death chamber, he recited the Kalima ( there is no God but God ), a practice taught by Mohammed. When he was laid on the gurney, he said: to God we belong, and to him we return.



Although it is a Koranic verse, it`s Mohammed who taught Muslims to recite this verse when facing death. And when Kasi raised his index finger before the chemicals were injected into his veins, he was again following Mohammed`s instruction to his followers to declare their faith by raising their finger when they are unable to speak.


Bureau Report